Improvement in boots and shoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID N. B. COFFIN, JR., OF VVOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENTIN BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of' Letters Patent No. 38,37 3, (lated May 5, 1863.

lowing is a full and exact description thereof,`

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot` reference Vmarked thereon, making part of this specification.

The nature of my invention relates to the means employed for fastening and unfastening the boot or shoe; and it consists of the arrangement of a series of buttons and a series of holes, eyelets, loops, or studs on the diferent parts, which are to be drawn toward nd secured ato each other, these buttons on the one part and holes, eyelets, loops, or studs on the other being arran ged to receive a lacing, string, or cord, alternating from one member of one series to one of the other, and vice versa, as may be seen in the drawings, so that the unlooping of the string from one button loosens the loop upon the next, and by unlooping one or more of the loops from their respective buttons the fastening of the shoe or boot is loosened while the ends of the string remain fast, and so that the looping on again of such loops of the string fastens again the boot or shoe, substantially as hereinafter more fully illustrated and described.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of the improved boot, representing it as it appears laced up upon the foot, the eyelets being hidden by a nish made to lap over and cover them. Fig. 2 is a drawing of a heavy boot for mens wear, showinga series of loops, instead of eyelets, (these loops must not be mistaken for loops of the lacing,) on the part opposite to that on which the buttons are set, the loops being formed by the leather being folded and stitched, and having scallops cut out. Fig. 3 shows the part opposite that on which the butv tons are set, made double and connected with a series of studs around which the lacing is passed between the two thicknesses of leather, the leather being stitched or otherwise connected between the studs to prevent the loops of the string getting in between out of the reach of the ngers. Fig. 4 is a drawing ot' a boot for 1adieswear,the toe, heel, and sole being of leather and other parts of cloth, the part opposite to that having the buttons being furnished with eyelets to receive the lacing alternately with the buttons. Fig. 5 is a drawing of the front ot' a shoe, in which the two parts ofthe shoe, iliade to lap the one upon the other, are each furnished with a strip stitched on purposely to receive the eyelets and buttons, and furnishing another style ot finish suited to my improvement. Figs. 6 and 7 are different views ot' a heavy boot for mens wear with eyelets to receive the lacing alternately with the buttons. Fig. S is a drawing of the front part of a simple style of shoe, in which the parts bearing the buttons and eyelets do not lap over each other, but are furnished with a tongue underneath. Fig. 9 is a drawing of a childs heavy shoe similar in style to Fig. 2, but varying in finish. Fig. l() is a drawing of the improved boot unt'astened and ready to be put on or ott' from the foot. Fig. ll shows two views of a button made concave around the eye and suited to keep the lacing from slipping oi' the button after being loosened. Fig. l2 shows a button made with a base or sha-nk extending to a liitle distance from the neck to prevent the action of the string from tipping the button, and Fig. 13 is a little different form of the same. Fig. 14 is a drawing of a button furnished with a sheave or friction-roller upon its neck to make the string or laein g render more freely, and Fig. 15 shows a button riveted in so as to be free to turn in the leather so to facilitate the rendering of the lacing. These peculiarly-constructed buttons are useful but not essential to my improvement, as a common button Y answers a good purpose.

When it is desired to modif'y the style ot' boot to show a row of buttons on both sides, one row of buttons may have an additional eye underneath to pass the lacing through, as

through an eyelet, or the single eye may becommonly employed in the art. The boot or shoe is for the most part made in the same manner and various styles, forms, sizes, Sie., as other boots, except those parts which are made to receive the fastening device. These must be adapted to and furnished with a series of buttons, a, on one part and a series of holes, eyelets loops, or studs, as c d ef, on the other part, so as toadmit of the application of a string or lacing, g, substantially in the manner shown in the drawings.

rIhe operation is substantially as follows: I attach the end of the lacing, by tying or otherwise, to a button, as at It, then pass it through an eyelet, as at fi, thence around the neXt loutton, thence through the next eyelet, thence around the next button, and through the next eyelet, and so on to the end of the series. I then put on the boot or shoe (or it may be put cn first) and adjust to the foot, drawing the lacing to the proper tension. I then fasten 111e lacing, as at J, by tying or otherwise. Now, when I wish to take oif the boot or shoe I have no untying of the lacing to do but simply to throw oif one or more of the loops la l,

&c., of the lacing from the buttons, when the fastening of the boot is at once relieved and the parts are loosened, as see Fig. 10, and the foot released. It will be observed that the loosening of the lacing from the buttons is very easily and expeditiously performed with the fingers without button-hooks or other appliances, the loops are so perfectly accessible and easily thrown oif, and then, when one loop ofthe lacing is released it relieves the tension on the adjacent ones, making this almost the simplest possible fastening to release or unl'asten. Now, in readjusting and fastening the boot there is no sewing or weaving in of the lacing to do, but simply to readjust one after another ot' the few loops of the lacing, n hich have been nnbuttoned, about their respective buttons, and the boot or shoe is fast again upon the foot.

Some of the advantages of my improvement.

I will mention-viz: The boot is much more i easily fastened and unfastened than the common laced boot, and is quite as neat and genteel in appearance. It does not, like the elastic-gore or congress boot, hug the. ankle too closely when new or become slouched or too loose when old, as the means ot' adjustment are inherent. It does not, like the common button-boot, require a button-hook to operate it, nor grow ragged as they do about the button-holes. Thus, my improvement combines most of the advantages of the common-laced boot, the congress and the button boot, and is free from many of their disadvantages.

Having pointed out the distinguishing features of my improvement, and set forth the construction and operation thereof, I claim- The button-laced boot and shoe as a new article ot' manufacture, the distinguishing feature of which consists of the arrangement ot' a series of buttons and a series ot' holes.,y

eyelets, loops, or studs upon the diiferent parts which are to be drawn together and secured to each other, these buttons on the one.

part and holes, eyelets, loops, or studs on the other being arranged to receive a lacing, string, or cord, alternating from one member of one series to one of the other, and vice versa, so that the unlooping ofthe string from one button loosens the loop upon the next, and unlooping one or more of the loops from their respective buttons the fastening of the boot or shoe is loosened while the ends of tlic string remain fast, and such loops of the string may be looped on again, so refastening the boot or shoe, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

' DAVID N. D. ooFriN, JR. [n s] Witnesses:

DAVID H. MAsoN, CHARLES F. STAPLES. 

